Transport cart

ABSTRACT

A wheeled transport cart including a system of standards and levers rigidly mounted upon a plate for swinging movement about the axle of the cart in combination with power means for lifting and carrying a transportable object. Means are provided on the chassis of the cart for hitching to a towing vehicle and for rotation of the plate to permit movement of relatively long objects over the road and within confined spaces.

United States Patent 1 1 3,576,267

[ 72] Inventors Nonnie J. Blevins; [56] References Cited Eugene 1.Wheeler; Gilbert M. Cox, UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] APPL ggf 'fgg2,786,589 3/1957 Garrett 214/130 [22] Filed Mar. 13, 1969 PrimaryExaminer-Gerald M. Forlenza [45] Patented Apr. 27, 1971 AssistantExaminer-Lawrence J. Oresky 73] Assignee Said Blevins assignor to saidWheeler AttorneySchmidt, Johnson, Hovey, Williams & Chase [54] TRANSPORTCART ABSTRACT: A wheeled transport cart including a system of 7 Clams 6Drawmg standards and levers rigidly mounted upon a plate for swinging[52] US. Cl. 214/130, movement about the axle of the cart in combinationwith 214/86 power means for lifting and carrying a transportable object.

[51] Int. Cl 1366c 23/00 Means are provided on the chassis of the cartfor hitching to a [50] Field of Search 214/ 1 32, towing vehicle and forrotation of the plate to permit 77, 78, 79, 80, 151; 172/463, 240, 316,491; movement of relatively long objects over the road and within214/130 confined spaces.

,62v 741 I70 96 1g 5. 2 55. 78 H0 24 i gg az W 82 92 28 ig lgao 'T 40 I6M' '8 1Q PATENTEUAPRZHQYI 3,576,267

gg-m-mm INVENTORS. Nonme J. Blevins Eugene L Wheeler Gilbem M. Cox

BY W1 J 7 41% mznz ATTO'RNEYS.

TRANSPORT CART This invention relates to a towable, wheeled chassis forlifting and carrying farm implements and other objects.

It is often necessary in the operation of a farm wherein fields arefrequently separated by substantial distances and a network of roads totransport an implement from field to field for subsequent use behind atractor or the like in each field. Towing behind a tractor for thesedistances is a slow and sometimes dangerous way of delivering theimplement t the field to be'worked, in view of the relative speed of thetractor and the fact that heavily traveled roads are often encountered.

It is, therefore, an important object of the instant invention toprovide a transport device which lifts from the ground the implement tobe transferred and supports it on the framework of the device in a safeand secure manner, and which is adapted for hitching to a pickup truckor other vehiclefor rapid transfer of the implement to another area.

It is another important object of this invention to provide incombination with a winch, piston and cylinder assembly, or other powermeans secured to the frame of the transport device a system of standardsand levers rigidly mounted to a plate which is swingable about the axleof the transport device for loading and unloading of the implement to betransferred.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide couplingmeans affixed to the standard and lever members which are designed andspaced for connection with a threepoint hitch commonly found on farmimplements, while gaining full mechanical advantage through the membersduring raising and lowering of the implement for transporting.

It is yet another important object of the instant invention to providemeans for rotating the system of standards and levers mounted on theplate and thus the farm implement about an axis perpendicular to theplate in order to position the implement with its longitudinal axisparallel to the path of travel of the transport cart for easy movementthrough narrow farm gates and the like.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the transport cart of our present inventionshowing the loading apparatus in a raised position;

' FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the cart with theloading apparatus shown supporting a load in a raised position with theright wheel omitted for clarity, the dotted lines representing the samein a lowered position for pickup;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the transport cart with the loadingapparatus in a raised position;

FIG.. 4 is a rear elevational view of the transport cart showing theloading apparatus and the supported load rotated 90 from the positionshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional, fragmentary view showing thelocking pin assembly used to hold the loading apparatus againstrotation.

A chassis 10 is supported at one end by a wheel and axle assembly 12comprising a pair of ground engaging wheels 14 and a longitudinal axle16 extending between wheels 14. The chassis 10 is generally an A-framecomprised of forwardly converging side members 18 rigidly affixed toaxle l6 and joined by a crossmember 20. The forward ends of members 18are joined to transversely extending flange 24, there being anextensible hitching assembly 26 projecting forwardly from crossmemberbetween members 18 under flange 24, and provided with connecting means28 at the outer end thereof for hookup with a towing vehicle.

A semicircular base 30 is secured, as shown in FIG. 5, rigidly to a tube32 that is in turn rotatable on the axle 16.

A semicircular plate 38 of slightly larger radius than base 30 isrotatably mounted on base 30 in overlying relation thereto by a trunnion40. Plate 38 is supported by two sets of coordinating rollers 46, theuppermost roller in each set being mounted to the underside of plate 38,and the lower roller in each set being mounted to projections 48extending downwardly from plate 38, thereby disposing rollers 46 forcircumferential travel on the upper and lower surfaces of base 30respectively as plate 38 is rotated.

' 38 and projecting outwardly therefrom are provided with means at theirouter ends for connection with an object 58 such as an implement to betransported, said means including U-shaped couplers 60 so mounted thattheir line of centers is normally parallel to axle 16, L-plates 62affixing couplers 60 to the extensible members 64 of standards 56, andL-pins 66 extending transversely through couplers 60 as shown in FIG. 2for containing outer points 68 of the above-mentioned threepoint" hitchon implement 58.

Couplers 68 can accept narrower loads than implement 58 I by removingpins 67 and rotating members 64 180 from their positions as shown inFIG. 3. The load carried by standards 56 need not be limited to a farmimplement so long as means are provided on the load for connection withcouplers 68.

A tripodal lever unit 70 has each leg 72, 74 and 76 thereof rigidlysecured to plate 38 remote from each other at their bases, and extendingoutwardly therefrom at such angles from plate 38 to converge at theirouter ends in box 78, legs 74 and 76 being additionally supported bygussets 80 connecting them with standards 56.

A hook 82 is mounted on box 78 and has linkage 84 pivotally attachedthereto for connecting with the center point 86 of the above-mentionedthree-point" hitch on implement 58. Linkage 84 has a joint intermediateits ends adapted to buckle when plate 38 is in the dashed line positionof FIG. 2. The hook 82 receives a clevis 88 on a cable 90 of winch 92 tocontrol swinging movement of lever unit 70, standards 56, plate 38, andbase 30 as they move as one unit about axle 16 during raising orlowering of implement 58 for transport. The winch 92 is supported by anupright 94 secured to bar 96 on chassis 110.

The loading apparatus is locked in the raised position by locking arm 98attached to base 30 and extending between a pair of bars 100 (one onlybeing shown in FIG. 2) secured to crossmember 20. Holes are provided inarm 98 and bars 100 for receiving a locking pin 102.

It is to be noted at this juncture that through use of pin 102, it isnot necessary to rely entirely upon winch 92 to support the load,notwithstanding the fact that winch 92 is provided with the usualratchet-pawl mechanism for maintaining the cable 98 taut. Whether or notthe tongue assembly 26 is extended depends upon the nature of theconfined areas within which the load 58 is transported, as for examplewithin a display lot or inventory storage building, as distinguished.from over-the-road or field transport.

In the event an implement or other load 158 is relatively long and wouldextend laterally beyond the wheels 14 in an objectional manner, it ispossible to reposition it as shown in FIG. 4. After inserting pin 102clevis 88 may be removed from hook 82 and thereupon pin 52 is removed.This permits manual rotation of the plate 38 about trunnion 40 withrespect to base 30 whereupon pin 52 is inserted in the second hole 54,the holes 54 being circumferentially spaced 90 as shown in FIG. 1.

In certain types of implements and other transportable objects it may benecessary or desirable to only raise a portion thereof so as to place itin tow behind the wheels 14, rather than to elevate the load to thepositions of FIGS. 2 or 4. In that event winch 92 swings the plate 38only to an inclined position where pin 102 of arm 98 will pass throughholes 103 in bars 100.

Another type of load other than implements, for example, may compriselarge drums or reels of wire or the like. In that event a shaft or rodcomparable to pins 68 may be passed through the hub of the reel and thenplaced in the saddlelike couplers 60 for retention by pins 66 prior toelevation through use of winch 92.

We claim:

1. A transport cart comprising:

a towable vehicle having a chassis and a wheel and axle assemblysupporting the chassis;

a plate normally overlying said chassis;

structure mounting said plate on the axle of said assembly for swingingmovement about the longitudinal axis of said axle to and from an uprightloading position;

a standard rigidly secured to said plate for swinging movement therewithand extending upwardly therefrom when the plate overlies the chassis;

coupling means on said standard remote from the plate for attaching thestandard to a transportable object when the plate is in said position;

a lever unit rigidly secured to said plate for swinging movementtherewith and provided with a terminus spaced from the plate and fromsaid coupling means;

power means interconnecting the chassis and said terminus for swingingthe plate from said position into overlying relationship to the chassisto raise an object attached to the coupling means; and

a connector secured to the unit at said terminus for attaching the unitto said object, said connector including linkage pivotally secured tothe unit and having a joint therein adapted to buckle when the plate isin said position.

2. A transport cart comprising:

a towable vehicle having a chassis and a wheel and axle assemblysupporting the chassis;

a plate normally overlying said chassis;

structure mounting said plate on the axle of said assembly for swingingmovement about the longitudinal axis of said axle to and from an uprightloading position,

said structure including a tube rotatable on said axle, a

base rigid to the tube for rotation therewith, and a trunnion attachingthe plate 38 to the base 30 for rotation about an axis intersecting thepath of swinging movement of the plate and the base;

a standard rigidly secured to said plate for swinging movement therewithand extending upwardly therefrom when the plate overlies the chassis;

coupling means on said standard remote from the plate for attaching thestandard to a transportable object when the plate is in said position;

a lever unit rigidly secured to said plate for swinging movementtherewith and provided with a terminus spaced from the plate and fromsaid coupling means; and

power means interconnecting the chassis and said tenninus for swingingthe plate from said position into overlying relationship to the chassisto raise an object attached to the coupling means.

3. The invention of claim 2; and releasable fastener means between thebase and the plate for holding the latter in any one of a number ofpositions relative to the base.

4. The invention of claim 2; and releasable locking mechanism forattaching the base to the chassis whereby to hold the base againstrotation about the axle.

5. The invention of claim 1, said structure including a tube rotatableon said axle, a base rigid to the tube for rotation wherewith, and atrunnion attaching the plate to the base for rotation about an axisintersecting the path of swinging movement of the plate and the base.

6. The invention of claim 5; and releasable fastener means between thebase and the plate for holding the latter in any one of a number ofpositions relative to the base.

7. The invention of claim 6; and releasable locking mechanism forattaching the base to the chassis whereby to hold the base againstrotation about the axle.

1. A transport cart comprising: a towable vehicle having a chassis and awheel and axle assembly supporting the chassis; a plate normallyoverlying said chassis; structure mounting said plate on the axle ofsaid assembly for swinging movement about the longitudinal axis of saidaxle to and from an upright loading position; a standard rigidly securedto said plate for swinging movement therewith and extending upwardlytherefrom when the plate overlies the chassis; coupling means on saidstandard remote from the plate for attaching the standard to atransportable object when the plate is in said position; a lever unitrigidly secured to said plate for swinging movement therewith andprovided with a terminus spaced from the plate and from said couplingmeans; power means interconnecting the chassis and said terminus forswinging the plate from said position into overlying relationship to thechassis to raise an object attached to the coupling means; and aconnector secured to the unit at said terminus for attaching the unit tosaid object, said connector including linkage pivotally secured to theunit and having a joint therein adapted to buckle when the plate is insaid position.
 2. A transport cart comprising: a towable vehicle havinga chassis and a wheel and axle assembly supporting the chassis; a platenormally overlying said chassis; structure mounting said plate on theaxle of said assembly for swinging movement about the longitudinal axisof said axle to and from an upright loading position, said structureincluding a tube rotatable on said axle, a base rigid to the tube forrotation therewith, and a trunnion attaching the plate 38 to the base 30for rotation about an axis intersecting the path of swinging movement ofthe plate and the base; a standard rigidly secured to said plate forswinging movement therewith and extending upwardly therefrom when theplate overlies the chassis; coupling means on said standard remote fromthe plate for attaching the standard to a transportable object when theplate is in said position; a lever unit rigidly secured to said platefor swinging movement therewith and provided with a terminus spaced fromthe plate and from said coupling means; and power means interconnectingthe chassis and said terminus for swinging the plate from said positioninto overlying relationship to the chassis to raise an object attachedto the coupling means.
 3. The invention of claim 2; and releasaBlefastener means between the base and the plate for holding the latter inany one of a number of positions relative to the base.
 4. The inventionof claim 2; and releasable locking mechanism for attaching the base tothe chassis whereby to hold the base against rotation about the axle. 5.The invention of claim 1, said structure including a tube rotatable onsaid axle, a base rigid to the tube for rotation wherewith, and atrunnion attaching the plate to the base for rotation about an axisintersecting the path of swinging movement of the plate and the base. 6.The invention of claim 5; and releasable fastener means between the baseand the plate for holding the latter in any one of a number of positionsrelative to the base.
 7. The invention of claim 6; and releasablelocking mechanism for attaching the base to the chassis whereby to holdthe base against rotation about the axle.